car seat on aircraft

[newkid]

Has anyone used their car seat on an aircraft? BA says that the seat has to be useable with just the lapbelt of a car seatbelt but I don't think most new car seats are designed like this.

Several of the Britax ones are ok with just a lap belt - Freeway and the Eclipse, I think at least - if you look at their website it shows the belt configurations under each seat's information.

when I worked as a hostie many moons ago, passenger car seats caused so many problems, as the regulations were so strict.
The straps holding the child in have to be 2 inches wide, it has to have a 5 point harness and had to be forward facing. I never once saw a seat that was suitable, except an airline one that I think could be hired.
That is for BMI, so BA may be different, although I think the rules are set by the Civil Aviation Authority, so apply to all UK airlines.
Good Luck!

btb, the "rules" vary from one airline to another as the size and pitch of the airline seat affects which models would fit. We've used infant seats on aircraft before now, fitted using the extension belt and very securely and a booster cushion. It is more regulated by the US airline industry, believe any seat used has to carry a specific approved sticker, but even then the policy is variable so always worth checking with each airline and getting their agreement to use it in writing in advance. Cabin crew may well try to insist upon carseats being stowed in the hold rather than used in flight - I know several people who have had such arguments despite being advised by ground staff otherwise. As it happens BA have a Britax- made seat for infants/toddlers on some long haul flights but not sure if they can guaranteed if prebooked.

I have used my Britax Rennaisance on an aircraft as it is suitable with just a lapbelt. However, this was a while ago and was only going to Spain.

Since then, no airline I have flown transatlantic has allowed me to bring a carseat onboard for use. They all have a rule against it though some provide a booster type seat. It really annoys me.

All UK airlines have to follow CAA guidelines, ie 5 point harness, etc, but they then make their own rules within these parameters.
Check with BA. If your child is under 2,newkid, and they should be travelling on your knee, you'll prob have to buy a seat to use your car seat on it, I think.

I'm just about to buy a Britax Freeway to take to NZ on Air New Zealand next month - their website has all the details of what the car seat need to conform to on it - BA seems to just say this - "Seats for babies and toddlers
If you are travelling on a longhaul flight with an infant aged 0-2 years you can request a specially designed travel cot or infant seat, and if you book early we'll do all we can to confirm your request before you fly"
BA do use Britax so I'm sure if you phone they can tell you what they use? But you do, I think, have to book a seat for the child

Thanks for the comments. I last flew with my dd when she was only 5 months old and we were able to use the ancient Britax seat/cot that BA attached to the bulkhead in front of us. It worked well. I can't see how my daughter will be safer on either a) my lap with a lap extension belt OR b) in her own seat with the lap belt than she would be in her own seat strapped to the airline seat. Oh well.

BTW the Freeway is half price in Argos at the moment for under £40 (not that I can find it in stock at any branch near me mind you)

georginars, think that is the Britax carrycot/seat I referred to - booked like a skycot as a request on an Under 2's fare. If you want to use your own car seat you'd have to pay for the child's airline seat in addition, or chance that there is a vacant one adjacent and that the airline staff will let you use it even so.

oh I see LIZS - so that's still an infant fare then, even if they put you in a separate seat. (if it's available). They don't make it very clear...
I just had to book a child seat at 75% fare for a 14 month old because Air New Zealand only prebook bassinets for under 8 months - up to 15 months you have to hope there's one when you request it at check in or else hold them for 25 hours - who the hell is going to take that risk? Shouldn't think my DD will fit in the bassinet anyway as it only goes to 12kg and isn't very long. Why they make it so complicated is a bit beyond me!

IMO the cot/bassinet on BA is too small for a child approaching two as my dd will be. I've used two different types when dd was 5mo - one was a really old Britax with a metal frame and one looked more like a mini moses basket. DD hated the mini moses basket as she couldn't see us when she was lying down in it. She was v happy in the cot seat and was a delight on both long-haul flights with minimal crying.

We had a terrible time with jet2.com last year. we had checked before hand and they had said that we could use it. my youngest son, 2.5yrs, is quadriplegic, reg blind, and has up to 150 seizures per day. when we got to the airport we ahd a big arguement with the check in as they said it had to go in the hold, finally got them to agree, then we were chased up the airline steps by some jobsworth in an orange jacket. explained to them that we had had it agreed when we booked the flight, again when we checked in. air hostess told us that she would try and fit it and if it didnt he would have to sit in seat like a normal child. i exploded at this cos he is a normal child, he just has special needs. they did get it fastened in, but it was very loose, we then had the same on the return journey. i complained to jet2 on return and their reply was 'sorry if you are not happy, but we are a budget airline!!

we have a britax eclipse which worked fine on Singapore Airlines. the only thing was that you could not be in an emergency exit/row. Which wasn't a problem for us - plane from Heathrow was almost empty and we just asked them to change our seat allocation from Singapore.

eclipse deffo works on air new zealand

We've taken both our Maxi Cosi Priori's on Singapore Airlines with no bother. Returning on Qantas (which code shares with BA) they wouldn't let it on board for one sector from New Zealand (even though cleared by ground staff), and insisted on putting it in the hold (even though there were dozens of empty rows it could have been strapped in to store)which meant they then couldn't guarantee us having it for the remaining sectors back to London (Sydney to London) that they would allow us to use it on.
Virgin won't allow any on board, and will provide one (more of a foam booster) so last year we had to take ours in the hold both ways, which meant it was a total waste taking it. We had been told it would be okay when I booked.
We're about to go to NZ on Emirates and their website says we can use it and I've phoned to confirm, so fingers crossed.
I guess the moral of the story is to check, check and double check.